Valve



J. L. FLEMING Jan; 9, 1940.

VALVE Filed Jan. 31, 1938 (Viz .1.

s Claims. .wl. 271 53);

This invention relates to valves and has par ticular application to valves employed for controlling fluid flow through pipe lines which are in continuous service.

An object of the invention is to reduce" the installation and maintenance expense of valve lines in continuous service.

A- more specific object is'to provide a practical. unit'for insertion in a fluid flow line which unit 1 19,; includes a regular service valve and an emergency service valve both so mounted in a plug valve that either the regular or the emergency service valve may be quickly connected into the line and the other valve not only disconnected from the line but made accessible for repairs. I Other more specific objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed'description, with reference to the drawing, of one particular, preferred embodiment through a plug valve incorporating two service valves in accordance with the invention, with the r lower service valve disassembled? Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 but with the plug of the valve 90 displaced from the position shown in Fig. 1 and with theupper service valve disassembled;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the. top of the plug of the valve; and 1 Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the plug of the valve.

Referring to the drawing, the valve therein disclosed comprises a casing I having a pair of alined longitudinal fluid passages 2 and 3, respectively, extending from flanged ends 4 and 5, respectively, of the casing. Valves of the type referred to are commonly made in relatively large sizes and are connected into a pipe line by bolting the flanges on the ends 4 and 5 of the valve casing to flanges (not shown) on the ends of the abutting pipe sections.

In addition to the fluid passages 2 and 3, the,

casing I has a tapered or conical opening extending completely therethrough and intersecting the shown in one of such positions in Fig. 1 and in the other position in Fig. 2. The plug contains two separate systems of passages, one of which interconnects the passages 2 iandlin the valve. 1

casing I when the plug is in the'position shown. in Fig; 1; and the other of which systems" inter connects the passages 2 and 3 when'the plug in the'position shown in Fig. 2. Separate and in- 5 dependent service valves are incorporated in these two systems of passages.

' Referring to Fig. 1, one system of passages in the plug 5 comprises a passage I adapted to communicate with the passage 2 in eating I and a passage- 8 which is adapted to be communicated with the passage 3 in casing I, and also is permanentiy communicated with the upper end of plug 6. The-passages I and Biare separated by a wall member s whijch has two vertically alined openings, the lower of-whichcommmiicates the passage :8 directly with the passage I and the upper of whichdirectly' communicates the passage 1 with-the space abovefthe upper end of the plug 6. The lowerbpening-referred to is provided with 20 a valve seat Illandthe upper opening is provided with a valve seat I I. Both of f these valve seats have valve-engaging surfaces at their upper corners and cooperate with a pair of valves I2 and I3, respectively, both of which are mount- 25. ed on a common central shaft I4 and are adapted to be raised and lowered on a stem I5 which extends upwardly' above the flange I3 and through aclosure member or bell cover It onthe upper end of the casing I. This cover l6 seals with the casing I to form a fluid-tight enclosure above the upper end of the plug 6.

As will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 1, the upper surface of valve I3 and the lower surface of valve I2 are exposed to fluid in pas- 35 sage 8 whereas the opposite surfaces of these two valves are exposed to fluid in the passage I. Therefore, regardless of differences in pressure of fluid in the passages 1 and 8, the forces applied to the valve structure are always balanced and 40 the valve can be opened or closed with very little power by merely raising or lowering the stem l5. Referring now to Fig. 2, the other system of passages in the plug 6 comprises a passage 20 adapted to communicate with the passage 2m 45 casing I and a passage 2I adapted to communicate with the passage; in casing I. The passage 20 extends from the side of the plug, Where it communicates with the passage 2 to and through the lower end of the plug at the center thereof 50 and its lower orifice is defined by a valve seat 22. This valve seat 22 cooperates with a valve 23 positioned therebelow and mounted on a stem 24 having screw threads 25 engaging threads in a hollow shaft or sleeve 26 through which the stem extends. Stem 24 extends beyond the "lower end or the sleeve 28 and is provided with a hand-wheel 21 for easy rotation to close and open the valve 23. The space below the plug 6 is closed by a cover 28 bolted onto the casing l with bolts 46. The sleeve 28 passes through an aperture provided therefor in the cover 28 and a seal is'efiected between the cover 28 and the sleeve26bymeansotpacking 29 adapted tobeconrpressed by a packing nut or gland 30. The stem 24 is similarly sealed with respect to the sleeve 26 through i which it passes with a packing adapted to be compressed by a packing gland or nut 3|.

It will be observed from the construction already described that the passage is adapted to be communicated through the valve 23 with the enclosed space below the end of the plug 8.

The passage 2| is in permanent communication" with this space. Thus the passage 2| is divided and extends downwardly through the plug .6 on opposite sides or the passage 26, terminating in two orifices 33 in the lower end of the plug, as shown in Fig. 4. .When the plug 6 is in the 25 position shown in Fig. 2, the valve 23 is open and fluid can flow from the passage 2 through the. passage 2i] into the space below the end of the plug, thence through the orifices 33 into the pas sage 2i and into the passage 3. The rate'oi-flow may be controlled, of course, by adjusting the valve 23 with handle 21. I

The sleeve 26, in addition to functioning as a support for the stem 24 has the important iunc-.

tion of retaining the plug 6 in seated relation with 35 the casing Thus at its upper endthe sleeve "26 is secured, as by threads 36, to abracket 36 which is boltedas by bolts 31 to the lower end of the plug 6 onopposite sides of the valve seat 22. Sleeve 26 extends through the cover 23 a 48 substantial distance and through an aperture provided therefor in a yoke 48 which is anchored at its ends to the valve casing I. On its lower end the sleeve 26 is-provided with a shoulder nut ll which is-adjustable to engage a bearing memher 42 whichsurrounds the sleeve 26 andis positloned between nut 4i and the yoke 48. This bearing 42 is shown as-a ball bearing to reduce the frictional resistance to turning of the plug. The sleeve 26 is provided with an octagonal exterior surface portion 43 between the packing nut 30 and the yoke ,lflrior the application of a wrench to turn the sleeve andthe plug 6 from one position to another.

From the description given so far, it will be apparent that when the plug. 6 is turned to the position shown in Fig. 1, the passages l and 8 in the plug are alined with the passages 2 and 3, respectively, in the, casing l, and flow of fluid through the valve is controlled by the valves l2 7 so and i3. Under these conditions, the passages 26 and 2|, associated with the valve 23, are closed at their lateral ends andthe valve 23 is out of service so that it can; be-repaired, it-necessary. Likewise, when the plug is turned in the position To gain access to the valve 23 when the plug isin the position shown in Fig. 1, the bolts holding the cover 28 to the casing l are removed and the 75 cover is dropped down into the position shown in Fig. 1. The .valve 23 and'the stem 26 are'then retracted by rotating the handle 27 until a nut 45 on the upper end 01 stem.2l, which nut se cured the valve 23, on the stem 24, can be removed with a wrench inserted between the upper 5 edge of the cover 28 and the casing I. the nut 45 has been removed the valve 23 can be lifted oi! the upper end of the stem 24 and thereafter the stem can be'completely removed from the sleeve 26. 'I'he'valve-2t 'aiter1being removed, 10 can be'replaced with a newvalve or can'be repaired. I1 necessary, the seat 22 can be removed. for repairs or replacement-whilethevalve 1 23 is out.-

The parts are reassembled. in thereversetorder by removing'the'bolts 1.41, "holding the cover in place. Atter removalohtheybolts lithe cover- |6 can be lifted clearv oil the casin thereby completely exposingthe upperiendoithe plug 6.. n will benotedftha m y 1 from the casingljl'=because,it,i"is secured in place 13 "the plug ii cannot escape by the sleeve wand yokelil, asiprevlously describedg 1' with cover i 6 removed. the valve assembly, includingthevalves l2 and, the shaft ll, and 'stem i5, 'can be lifted out of the plug and replaced OIYgI'EPflil-ffld. With the 35 valve structure removed, the valve seats to and II may also be removed. The valve seat [I is preferably made oi. slightly larger external diam-- eter than the valve seat lflsothat the latter may be easily removed through the aperture for to the seat II. The upper valve structureis reassembled by simply inserting the seats and H, dropping the valveassembly in place, and re-v placing the cover l8. r

- The plug 6 may be provided on. itsup'ner end with an outwardly extending flange'io having a cylindrical peripheral surface fitting in-a cylindrical recess 5| at the upper end oi! theconical opening in the body I, in which the plug seats, and a fitting 52 maybe provided through which 50 lubricant under pressure may. be introduced into the space 53 below flange 58;-to ireethe plug in case it should be frozen. As is readily understood 7 by those skilled in the art; plug valves that are leftin one position for along period of time some times seat so tightlythat it is impossible to turn the plug without first breaking it loose from its seat. However, the movement of the plug necessary to free it is very'slight and in the particular form-oi the invention-shown such movement is 60 permitted due tothe' inherent resilience of the yoke 40 by which thesleeve 26 is longitudinally supported.

As previously pointed out, the sleeve 26 and yoke 40 constitute the seal means for retaining the plug in seated engagement in the valve body.

It may be desirable, in some instances, to provide packing means in the recess 53, as shown in the drawing, to effect a better seal at the contact of the flange 50 with the recess wall 5|;

' It is to be understood that while a conventional form of grease fitting 52 has been shown for supplying lubricant to the recess 53 that other means maybe employed, and, if desired, the means for forcing the lubricant may merely 0011- ii sist of a threaded passage in the valve body with a screw plug, whereby grease inserted in the passage may be compressed and forced into Iii) the recess 53 by screwing in the plug.

Although the invention has been explained by describing in detail one particular embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications can be made in the particular structure shown without departing from the invention, which is to be limited only as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A valve comprising a casing having a plug opening and fluid passages communicating with said plug opening, a plug in said opening having two distinct systems of passages therein for independently intercommunicating the fluid passages in said casing intwo diiferent positions of Y said plug, in which each of said passage systems includes a separate valve operable independently of the other for controlling flow of fluid therethrou'gli;

2. A valve comprising a casing having a plug opening therein and having fluid passages communicating with said plug opening, a plug in said opening having two distinct systems of passages therein for independently intercommunicating the passages in said casing in two different positions of said plug, one at least of said systems of passages comprising a pair of passages each extending between the bearing surface of the plug and one end of theplug,-me'ans forming an enclosure aboutone end of said plug. and valve means controlling fluid flow from one of said passages to the space within'said enclosure.

'3, A valve comprising a casing having a plug opening therein and fluid passages communicating therewith, a plug in said opening having two distinct systems of passages therein extending through the plug and terminating in the bearing surface thereof for independently intercommunicating the passages in said casing in two different positions of said plug, in which one of said systems of passages comprises -a pair-of passages each extending between the bearing surface of the plug and one end of the plug, and the other system of passages comprises, a pair of passages each extending between the bearing surface of the plug and the other end of the plug, means forming a fluid-tight enclosure about each end of said plug, and independent valve means for controlling fluid flow between one passage of each of said twosystems of passages and the space 'at the end-of. the plug with which that passage communicates.

4. A valve comprising acasing and a tapered plug rotatably mounted in a tapered opening provided therefor in said casing, detachable cover means for said casing defining with said casing a fluid chamber about the small end of said plug, sleeve means secured to said plug and extending axially therefrom through said cover,- means gengaging said sleeve and preventing axial movement thereof in such direction as to loosen said plug, fluid passages in said plug communicating the lateral surface of the plug with the small end of the plug, valve means for controlling fluid flow through said passages, and an actuating stemfor said valve means extending through said sleeve.

5. A valve as defined in claim 4, in which one of said passages in said plug terminates in a valve seat centrally disposed in the. small end of said plug, ,in which said sleeve is anchored to said plug with a yoke straddling said valve seat and in which said valve is positioned within said last mentioned yoke.

6. A valve comprising a casing, having a plug opening therein and apair of fluid passages communicating with said opening, a plug in said opening in sealing engagement with said casing, means defining a first chamber within said plug communicating with the lateral surface of the plug at one point, a second chamber in communication with the lateral surface of the plug at another point,.a pair of valve seats axially alined with respect'to said plug, and positioned in juxtaposed portions of thewall of said first chamber and communicating said first chamber with said second chamber, a. pair of valves one associated with each of said valve seats and one mounted for opening movement from its seat insidesaid first chamber and the other mounted for opening movement from its seat exterior of said first chamber, means for opening and closing said plug having other passage means adapted to intercommunicate said casing passages in another position of said plug.

JAMES LEO FLEMING. 

